The writer (Smokefree Coordinator, Regional Public Health, Hutt Valley District Health Board, New Zealand) comments on a letter from Williman et al. (NZ Med J 20 Jan 2011;124(1333):) which suggested selling nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) through small convenience stores to make it more accessible.  He points out obstacles to the proposal - 'in order to provide NRT cheaply under the current scheme, retailers would have to become Quit Card providers.  At present, only registered health professionals can become Quit Card providers; this programme would need to change.  Quit Card providers also need to be trained in smoking cessation, and finally Pharmac would need to approve a scheme to allow a funded medicine to be dispensed through general retail stores.  Pharmacists might oppose this.  One answer is to sell NRT through retail at full mark-up; though this could make it less appealing to the smoker.'

He suggests encouraging the sale of non-pharmaceutical nicotine-containing products such as Swedish snus and e-cigarettes.